Waynesboro senior enjoys new challenge in football

A golfer through most of his high school career, the sport only arrived on his doorstep after a friend prodded him to see what it was all about in his senior year.

But Buchanan, who also works three days a week on the side and weight lifts during his off block period at school, has transitioned nicely to the sport.

He's found a role on the special teams unit. During particularly successful games, he's also seen time on the field as a wide receiver.

Elsewhere, Buchanan has made friends with players he hadn't built connections with previously.

CLOSE

Waynesboro's Brett Buchanan talks about how he got into football as well as how he balances it with school and work. (Video by Griffin Moores/The News Leader)

"I met a lot of new people that I would see in the hall that I wouldn't talk to that I now hang out with frequently," he said. "I still hang out with Witt [his golfing friend], but I'm just glad I did it."

Buchanan noticed early on that even as a substitute, he wasn't treated any differently.

"They don't treat me any different than they treat the people they start," he said. "We're all one."

The real eye-opener has come over the lense of Friday nights.

"As soon as those lights come on Friday nights, it's an amazing feeling," he said. "It's like something takes over the whole locker room and everybody all of a sudden gets hype.

"We're walking out and we have the cheerleaders and the pep club like lined up along the side. They're chanting our name, Go Giants and stuff, and we all run out toward this big tarp. And it's just a remarkable feeling."

Read or Share this story: http://www.newsleader.com/story/valleypreps/2014/10/07/waynesboro-senior-enjoys-new-challenge-in-football/16866845/